Renewable-energy company and Seriti Holdings subsidiary Seriti Green has moved from investment commitment to operating infrastructure in Mpumalanga, with Phase 1 of its flagship Ummbila Emoyeni wind energy facility supplying electricity to the national grid.

The first 155 MW, comprising 25 turbines, marking the successful delivery of Phase 1 of Seriti Green’s planned 900 MW renewable-energy programme in the province, entered commercial operation on July 31, 2026.

The project represents one of the largest private wind investments in Mpumalanga to date and is central to Seriti Green’s strategy to anchor South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET) in the region where coal jobs and energy infrastructure are most concentrated, says Seriti Green CEO Peter Venn.

The milestone is also underpinned by major transmission investment. The Vunumoya main transmission substation, developed at a cost of about R1.2-billion, was completed in 17 months before being transferred to Eskom’s transmission network.

Phase 2, meanwhile, reached financial close in August 2025, followed by Phase 3 in October 2025. Construction on both phases started immediately after financial close and is currently under way.

Phase 2 and 3, totalling 310 MW, are expected to be completed by November 2027, bringing total operational capacity across all three phases to 465 MW, three times the 155 MW capacity of Phase 1, Venn adds.

Altogether, 122 additional turbines are planned across the remaining phases of the cluster. The first three phases will use 6.2 MW turbines, with Phase 4 moving to 7.5 MW turbines. Phase 5 is expected to deploy 10.5 MW turbines.

“The 122 turbines of all five phases will be complete before the end of 2028,” says Venn.

Project Pipeline

Beyond its pipeline in Mpumalanga, Seriti Green is advancing a national portfolio of more than 3 GW. In the Free State, the company has received environmental-impact assessment authorisation for more than 60 turbines, positioning the project for financial close and construction.

The strategy, Seriti Green says, is to build a diversified renewable-energy business that supports the JET framework – a national plan to shift the country to cleaner, low- carbon energy while protecting vulnerable workers and communities. It will be implemented through utility-scale wind generation, future solar developments, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and associated trans- mission infrastructure.

The diversification is already under way across the Seriti footprint, where the group is working on large PV and BESS projects.

“We see BESS playing an important role for future projects,” Venn notes.

For the Ummbila Emoyeni wind energy facility, battery storage will be incorporated in the later phases of the project. He notes that while detailed construction timelines have not yet been publicly disclosed, BESS is expected to complement the facility’s wind generation by improving system flexibility, supporting grid stability and allowing for greater optimisation of renewable- energy production.

“Watch this space, we are planning significant BESS investment in Mpumalanga in 2027,” he states.

East Africa Expansion

In parallel with its South African programme, Seriti Green continues to advance its East African renewable-energy strategy.

In Kenya, the Meru County Energy Park has reached an important milestone through the handover of title deeds, providing a foundation for future development.

The Meru County Energy Park has not yet been constructed, but feasibility studies for the 105 MW wind project – paired with 70 MWh of battery storage – are complete. Offtake decisions with the utility are ongoing and construction is targeted for 2027, subject to a power purchase agreement.

In Tanzania, development work continues on the Miombo Hewani project as part of the company’s broader regional renewable-energy pipeline.

Further updates will be provided as development milestones, approvals and commercial processes progress, Venn says.

Seriti Green’s focus remains on delivering projects that strengthen energy security, support economic development and create long-term opportunities for communities through strategic partnerships with governments, power utilities, customers, communities and industry.